第 9 节
作者:
暖暖 更新:2024-04-07 11:54 字数:9322
confound the calculations both of the farmer and landlord。
With the cautions here noticed in letting farms; the landlord
may fairly look forward to a gradual and permanent increase of
rents; and; in general; not only to an increase proportioned to
the rise in the price of produce; but to a still further
increase; arising from an increase in the quantity of produce。
If in taking rents; which are equally fair for the landlord
and tenant; it is found that in successive lettings they do not
rise rather more than in proportion to the price of produce; it
will generally be owing to heavy taxation。
Though it is by no means true; as stated by the Economists;
that all taxes fall on the net rents of the landlords; yet it is
certainly true that they are more frequently taxed both
indirectly as well as directly; and have less power of relieving
themselves; than any other order of the state。 And as they pay;
as they certainly do; many of the taxes which fall on the capital
of the farmer and the wages of the labourer; as well as those
directly imposed on themselves; they must necessarily feel it in
the diminution of that portion of the whole produce; which under
other circumstances would have fallen to their share。 But the
degree in which the different classes of society are affected by
taxes; is in itself a copious subject; belonging to the general
principles of taxation; and deserves a separate inquiry。
NOTES:
1。 I cannot; however; agree with him in thinking that all land
which yields food must necessarily yield rent。 The land which is
successively taken into cultivation in improving countries; may
only pay profits and labour。 A fair profit on the stock employed;
including; of course; the payment of labour; will always be a
sufficient inducement to cultivate。
2。 J。B。 Say; Traite d'economie politique; 2nd ed。; 2 vols。
(Paris; 1814) ii; p。 124。 Of this work a new and much improved
edition has lately been published; which is highly worthy the
attention of all those who take an interest in these subjects。
3。 J。C。L。S。 de Sismondi; De la richesse commerciale; 2 vols。
(Geneva; 1803); i; p。 49。
4。 Adam Smith; An inquiry into the nature and causes of the
wealth of nations; ed。 D。 Buchanan; 4 vols。 (Edinburgh; 1814) iv;
p。 134。
5。 Smith; Wealth of nations; iii; p。 212。
6。 It is; however; certain; that if either these materials be
wanting; or the skill and capital necessary to work them up be
prevented from forming; owing to the insecurity of property; to
any other cause; the cultivators will soon slacken in their
exertions; and the motives to accumulate and to increase their
produce; will greatly diminish。 But in this case there will be a
very slack demand for labour; and; whatever may be the nominal
cheapness of provisions; the labourer will not really be able to
command such a portion of the necessaries of life; including; of
course; clothing; lodging; etc。 as will occasion an increase of
population。
7。 I have supposed some check to the supply of the cotton
machinery in this case。 If there was no check whatever; the
effects wold show themselves in excessive profits and excessive
wages; without an excess above the cost of production。
8。 Smith; Wealth of nations; iv; p。 35。
9。 The more general surplus here alluded to is meant to include
the profits of the farmer; as well as the rents of the landlord;
and; therefore; includes the whole fund for the support of those
who are not directly employed upon the land。 Profits are; in
reality; a surplus; as they are in no respect proportioned (as
intimated by the Economists) to the wants and necessities of the
owners of capital。 But they take a different course in the
progress of society from rents; and it is necessary; in general;
to keep them quite separate。
10。 According to the calculations of Mr Colquhoun; the value of
our trade; foreign and domestic;and of our manufactures;
exclusive of raw materials; is nearly equal to the gross value
derived from the land。 In no other large country probably is this
the case。 P。 Colquhoun; Treatise on the wealth; power; and
resources of the British Empire; 2nd ed。 (1815); p。 96。 The whole
annual produce is estimated at about 430 millions; and the
products of agriculture at about 216 millions。
11。 To the honour of Scotch cultivators; it should be observed;
that they have applied their capitals so very skilfully and
economically; that at the same time that they have prodigiously
increased the produce; they have increase the landlord's
proportion ot it。 The difference between the landlord's share of
the produce in Scotland and in England is quite extraordinary
much greater than can be accounted for; either by the natural
soil or the absence of tithes and poor's rates。 See Sir John
Sinclair's valuable An account of husbandry in Scotland
(Edinburgh; 1812) and General Report; 4 vols。 (Edinburgh; 1814)
not long since published works replete with the most useful
and interesting information on agricultural subjects。
12。 See BPP; 1814…5; V; p。 66; evidence before the House of
Lords; given by Arthur Young。
13。 In all our discussions we should endeavour; as well as we
can; to separate that part of high price; which arises from
excess of currency; from that part; which is natural; and arises
from permanent causes。 In the whole course of this argument; it
is particularly necessary to do this。
14。 It will be observed; that l have said in a progressive
country; that is; in a country which requires yearly the
employment of a greater capital on the land; to support an
increasing population。 If there were no question about fresh
capital; or an increase of people; and all the land were good; it
would not then be true that corn must be sold at its necessary
price。 The actual price might be diminished; and if the rents of
land were diminished in proportion。 the cultivation might go on
as before; and the same quantity be produced lt very rarely
happens; however; that all the lands of a country actually
occupied are good; and yield a good net rent。 And in all cases; a
fall of prices must destroy agricultural capital during the
currency of leases; and on their renewal there would not be the
same power of production。
15。 This conclusion may appear to contradict the doctrine of the
level of the precious metals。 And so it does; if by level be
meant level of value estimated in the usual way。 I consider the
doctrine; indeed; as quite unsupported by facts; and the
comparison of the precious metals to water perfectly inaccurate。
The precious metals are always tending to a state of rest; or
such a state of things as to make their movement unnecessary。 But
when this state of rest has been nearly attained; and the
exchanges of all countries are nearly at par; the value of the
precious metals in different countries; estimated in corn and
labour; or the mass of commodities; is very far indeed from being
the same。 To be convinced of this; it is only necessary to look
at England; France; Poland; Russia; and India; when the exchanges
are at par。 That Adam Smith。 who proposes labour as the true
measure of value at all times and in all places; could look
around him; and vet say that the precious metals were always the
highest in value in the richest countries; has always appeared to
me most unlike his usual attention to found his theories on
facts。
16。 Even upon the system of importation; in the actual state and
situation of the countries of Europe; higher prices must
accompany superior and increasing wealth。
17。 We must not be so far deceived by the evidence before
Parliament; relating to the want of connection between the prices
of corn and of labour; as to suppose that they are really
independent of each other。 The price of the necessaries of life
is; in fact; the cost of producing labour。 The supply cannot
proceed; if it be not paid; and though there will always be a
little latitude; owing to some variations of industry and habits;
and the distance of time between the encouragement to population
and the period of the results appearing in the markets: yet it is
a still greater error; to suppose the price of labour unconnected
with the price of corn; than to suppose that the price of corn
immediately and completely regulates it。 Corn and labour rarely
march quite abreast; but there is an obvious limit; beyond which
they cannot be separated。 With regard to the unusual exertions
made by the labouring classes in periods of dearness; which
produce the fall of wages noticed in the evidence; they are most
meritorious in the individuals; and certainly favour the growth
of capital。 But no man of humanity could wish to see them
constant and unremitted。 They are most admirable as a temporary
relief; but if they were constantly in action; effects of a
similar kind would result from them; as from the population